Meter Readers, Utilities

Most exposed tasks

Highest structured exposure values in this role’s task mix — the work AI systems can already do most of.

• Upload into office computers all information collected on hand-held computers during meter rounds, or return route books or hand-held computers to business offices so that data can be compiled.98
• Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.92
• Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.89

Augmentable tasks

Work where AI assists rather than replaces — the productivity frontier of this role.

• Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.55
• Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.53
• Connect and disconnect utility services at specific locations.52

Most durable tasks

Lowest exposure — typically judgment, relationships, physical presence, or accountability. This is the human moat.

The current data release does not distinguish durable tasks for this role.

Task exposure values and classifications come from the versioned data release — they are structured data, not model output. Bars show exposure contribution relative to this role’s task mix.

What this means

A score of 73 puts Meter Readers, Utilities in the most-exposed quarter of analyzed occupations. In practice, exposure this high is about the mix: 9 of 12 analyzed tasks lean automatable, 3 augmentable, and 0 durable. The useful question isn’t “will AI take this job” — it’s which tasks go first, which get faster, and where to reposition time. That’s what the personalized report maps against your actual week.

One next move: audit how much of your week sits in the exposed tasks above — then shift time toward the durable set or investigate the adjacent roles below.

Lower-exposure adjacent roles

Shown only when the target is at least 10 points lower under the same score version and skill overlap is at least 50%. These are adjacent roles with lower task exposure — not guaranteed “safe careers”.

Labor-market context

• $48,150median wage
• 19,430employed
• 1,300annual openings
• -11.9%projected growth

Context only — labor statistics are not inputs to the exposure score. See methodology.

Related roles

Adjacent by skills or family — no exposure claim implied.

• Power Distributors and Dispatchers 72
• Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment 36
• Power Plant Operators 65
• Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 51
• Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators 62
• Cargo and Freight Agents 72

FAQ — Meter Readers, Utilities

What does a score of 73 mean for a Meter Readers, Utilities?

It means that, weighted across the 12 tasks we analyzed for this role, the task mix sits at 73 on a 0–100 exposure scale — in the most-exposed quarter of analyzed occupations. It measures task exposure to current and near-term AI capabilities, not the probability of losing a job.

Which tasks in this role are most exposed to AI?

The highest-exposure tasks are: Upload into office computers all information collected on hand-held computers during meter rounds, or return route books or hand-held computers to business offices so that data can be compiled; Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers; Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers. Exposure is scored per task from structured data, not generated by a language model.

Which parts of this job are most durable?

The current data release does not distinguish durable tasks for this role.

Is this score personalized to me?

No — this page shows the occupation-level baseline. Two people with the same title often do different work. The $9 personalized report recalculates the score from the tasks you actually do and builds a concrete 7/30/90-day plan around them.